XXII

Cassiopeia held the flowers in her hands so tightly that her knuckles were turning pale white. Her heart was beating hard in her throat and she felt as if she could just disappear at any moment, and her Aunt was practically bouncing on her spot from nervousness. Andromeda was the one who would escort her down the aisle, which had been a clear choice for the girl since George had asked her to marry him.

When the two stepped into the garden, Cas' grey eyes were immediately drawn to the beautiful pale pink tent they had put up and the white and red flowers that formed an arch in front of the entrance of it. Lights were floating, and the same flowers decorated the entirety of the space inside.

She didn't look around. She didn't try to see anyone who was there.

The moment they stepped into the tent, her gaze fell on George, and that was it. The whole world was gone, and he was there waiting for her.

If someone asked her how her walking went, Cassiopeia couldn't answer. Maybe it was slow or she had rushed to get under the big arch of red and white roses where George was standing with the largest of smiles. She didn't know, and she didn't care.

"Hi," she whispered.

"You look beautiful," he affirmed, kissing her cheek.

"Thank you."

Cassiopeia gave Fred a knowing look before both she and her groom turned to the wizard standing at their side.

"Ladies and gentlemen…"

The blonde girl didn't hear him. Time rushed around her and George, and she could only see him in front of her, holding his hand tightly as to make sure he wouldn't just disappear and she would wake from this long dream. The George who saved her and guided her through a whole new life she never thought she could have or even thought she would want to have was here. He was her George now.

"Do you have anything to say to one another?" the wizard questioned.

They had, indeed.

"Can I go first?" her fiancé was quick to ask, and Fred gave him an unfolded piece of paper with some handwriting on it.

Cassiopeia and George had decided to write personal vows to one another. It was hard for her – talking about her feelings wasn't something that came easy – but she knew how much that would mean for him and didn't even protest when he suggested it to her, hesitantly, one night.

"Uh…" he muttered, then cleared his throat. "Cas… For those of you who don't know, that's what I call the very serious lady in front of you now, who didn't have a nickname before I gave it to her."

The guests laughed, and she just chuckled at his succeeded attempt to humour the occasion.

"I remember the day I first saw you. We were both kids and me and Fred were going to get our wands, and you were there too. That's when I saw you, with your wand in hand. Poplar wood, Dragon Core, 13 inches, and rigid flexibility," he read, then turned to glance at the guests. "I did my research, and I think I know exactly why that wand chose you."

The blonde only continued to look at him. She did not remember him there that day, but how could her? She was a young girl excited to finally have her own wand in her own hands.

"Poplar wood is a wand wand-makers say you can rely upon, very consistent, strong, and uniform with its power. The wand is happier when it works with a witch or wizard with a clear moral vision. Dragon heartstrings produce the best of the spells, learn quickly, and are strongly loyal to their owner. And it is as rigid as you are resilient," he looked into her bright eyes. "You know what you want and you fight for it. You know who you are, and you don't bend away from what you think is right."

She offered him a small smile, flattered, and his grin got bigger.

"You made me a better person, you taught me lessons that I would've never learn on my own. You helped me even when I thought my ideas were crazy, because you believed in me, and you do believe in me. When I first saw you in that store I thought 'that's a pretty girl', and I spent years and years looking at you and not knowing how much more you were, and the moment you truly stepped into my life, you made me want to go back in time just so I could look into your eyes and talk to you sooner, so my life could be this happy sooner. I love you."

Cassiopeia closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that had formed in them.

She took a deep breath and felt Fleur's hand on her shoulder, probably about to offer her the vows she'd written weeks ago.

"I don't need them," the young bride whispered to her. "I can say them without looking."

She stepped back and Cas raised her gaze to George, ignoring everyone else once again.

"This is probably the second hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life," she declared. "Don't mind me if I stumble with the words, please."

George laughed, squeezing her delicate hands in his, and his bride fixed her own posture.

"I'm not one to express my feelings verbally, most people here know that. When I first met you, I never thought you would change my life so much and so quickly. You showed me that I could choose what I wanted to do with my life, that I could find my own path and wouldn't be alone in it. You stuck to my side every moment of the journey it took to find out who I wanted to be and loved me for every second of it. You're the balance I always looked for in life. Where I am cold, you are warm. Where I am quiet, you're talkative for the both of us."

He laughed at that, and she caressed the palms of his hands with her thumbs.

"Where I'm cautious, you're adventurous and impulsive. You fight for your success though life is fighting you back, you're intelligent and creative in a way very few people have ever been before and I admire you so deeply for that. You are a good brother, a good son, and a good friend. You make me want to be better every day in my life just so I can make you as happy as you make me every day," she blinked away more tears. "And I love you like I never thought I would ever love anyone in my life."

Completely ignoring the protocol, George dropped her hands and cupped his bride's face, caressing her cheek and giving her lips a chaste kiss, and she maintained her eyes closed as he rubbed his nose on hers very gently.

"Hey," Fred protested. "Hold on, little birds, the kiss is only supposed to happen later."

She laughed, and many more people did so just as well, and George stepped back just as the wizard by her side pulled his wand.

"Cassiopeia Druella. Do you take George as your husband?"

"I do," she nodded.

"Do you, George, take Cassiopeia Druella to be your wife?"

When Cas returned to look at her fiancé, George was just looking at her the same way as before, still smiling, and she raised her eyebrows. Hadn't he heard him?

"George," the girl called.

The way her groom almost jumped, startled, assured she he hadn't heard the man calling him.

"Yes?" he turned to the man.

"Do you, George, take…"

"I do," he interrupted him. "I do, yes."

She shook her head, grinning, and silver stars poured on them.

"Then I declare you bonded for life. You can now kiss."

George didn't wait for any more incentive, pulling his wife close and fully kissing her as people applauded and cheered – Fred being the loudest of them.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the man called loudly. "I present you Mister and Misses George Weasley."